Citation

Williams A, Donaghue N. Crit. Public Health 2010; 20(1): 15-24.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/09581590802566446

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In recent years increasing media attention has highlighted the possibility that antidepressants may cause many disturbing side effects, including suicide. However, coverage of these issues has been criticised as negatively affecting people who suffer from depression. Employing the methods of discursive psychology, this paper examines how arguments are constructed for and against providing information about the full range of side effects of antidepressant medications, via the analysis of a public debate in which the potential side effects of SSRIs were the topic of concern. We demonstrate how one speaker draws on repertoires of consumer rights pitted against corporate profit motives to construct a case for the provision of warnings as a reasonable and obvious responsibility of pharmaceutical companies. The other speaker relies on separating practical from academic problems, and constructs the 'academic' question of serious side effects of SSRIs as a contentious and illegitimate concern in the public realm. The arguments employed by both opponents are discussed in terms of their rhetorical construction and social consequences. © 2010 Taylor & Francis.

Language: en

Keywords

human; Public policy; information dissemination; suicide; depression; Drugs; motivation; article; responsibility; serotonin uptake inhibitor; public health service; drug safety; drug industry; food and drug administration; drug information; consumer; discourse analysis; drug labeling; profit; Health public policy